Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman has quashed rumours linking him with the vacant position at Altrincham.

Former Evertonian Mark Ward parted company with the Moss Lane club last week and Coleman's has been one of the names in the frame.

But, as Stanley prepare to make a charge for the Conference next season, Coleman dismissed the link.

"I haven't heard anything about that but I am happy here. Accrington Stanley is a fantastic club," he said.

Meanwhile, the Reds boss will be out to make sure his players give the fans something to shout about at the Crown Ground tonight.

The UniBond Premier League side face Hucknall Town on the back of an indifferent run which has seen the Reds maintain a top ten spot but fall too far behind the leading pack for Coleman's liking.

The aim, after hopes of promotion slipped away earlier on in the season, was to finish as high up as possible before the Conference charge. But Coleman will not put up with just two wins from the last 15 League outings.

"It has been disappointing and if you could see me in the dressing room after the game you know I have a burning desire to win every game," admitted the Reds boss. "The players are under no illusions what they have to do.

"The fans pay their money and the least we can offer is to try and win.

"To be fair to the lads, they seem to be going through a bit of a crisis of confidence at the moment.

"They know how ambitious both me and the club are.

"Perhaps they are a little nervous as they know they are playing to hang on to their positions next season and they are battling to do that. It is just a bit frustrating at the moment."

Coleman admits he has his eye on a couple of new faces which he hopes to bring to Stanley in the summer.

"I have already been speaking to a couple of players who I hope to sign and the Chairman will back me 100 per cent whatever I want. But Mark Shirley should be back next season after missing this season with a knee injury and that will be like having a new signing, and a good one at that."

Coleman, who scored his first goal of the season in the 5-2 defeat by Altrincham on Sunday, is a doubt tonight with an injury while Steve Hollis and Steve Carragher are also suffering from knocks.

"I think our poor spell has coincided with injuries but that is not an excuse as we have a good squad here. We just seem to be punished for every mistake at the moment.

"We're at home tonight and we are desperate to win for the fans as they have been superb."

Elsewhere, in the UniBond First Division, Chorley, looking for their first win in five League games, are at home to Ashton United tonight.

And, in the NWCL Division One, Jim McCluskie hasn't seen his table-topping Rossendale side lose at home yet since he took charge early on in the season and he'll be keen it doesn't happen tonight when Newcastle Town visit Dark Lane.

Dale were shocked by a 2-1 defeat at Skelmersdale on Saturday which saw their 13-match unbeaten run come to an end but they still preserved their place at the top of the table.

Ramsbottom, with 15 League games without defeat, will hope to continue their own promotion push when they welcome St Helens to the Riverside.

And, with the FA Vase now out of their minds, Clitheroe will refocus on their league title push and welcome Cheadle -- who had seven put past them at the weekend -- to Shawbridge.

In the NWCL Division Two, Bacup welcome Atherton LR to West View while there's a local derby at Darwen when Padiham visit the Anchor Ground in a mid-table battle.